Erection of the ecclesiastical province of Ndola, Zambia, and appointment of first metropolitan archbishop

The Holy Father has erected the ecclesiastical province of Ndola, Zambia, with the suffragan dioceses of Kabwe and Solwezi, and has appointed Bishop Benjamin Phiri, hitherto bishop of the diocese of Ndola, as metropolitan archbishop of the new ecclesiastical province.

Statistical data of the new ecclesiastical province

The archdiocese of Ndola is located in a central area of Zambia. It has an area of 32,000 km². There are 1,920,580 Catholics, of a total of 3,223,400 inhabitants (59.6 %) served in 84 parishes. There are 187 priests (106 diocesan and 81 religious). Pastoral care is also provided by 151 religious brothers and 340 religious sisters. There are 143 major seminarians. The archdiocese also benefits from the service of numerous catechists.

The new ecclesiastical province of Ndola will have as suffragans the dioceses of Kabwe and Solwezi.